Accessory for vacuum cleaners



June 16, 1931. KELLER 1,810,613

ACCESSORY FOR VACUUM CLEANERS Filed Oct. 11, 1927 I INVENTOK ATTOR EY:

Patented June 16, 1931 LEO P. KELLER, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO ,AOCESSORY FORVACUUM CLEANERS Application filed October 11, 1927. Serial No. 225,530.

This invention relates to an accessory in the nature of an attachmentfor vacuum cleaners, suction cleaners, suction sweepers, household aircleaners, and the like, whereby the implement, in addition to itsfunction as a cleaning implement, is converted into a sanitary implementfor the purpose of utilizing the suction or blower effect of 'thecleaner as a disseminator for a germicide. v

Vacuum cleaners as cleaning implements utilize a blower pressure assuction to draw dirt and refuse throu h the cleaner and into a bag inwhich the dirt accumulates, or utilize the blower pressure of thecleaner as a blower for blowing dust or dirt from articles to'becleaned. In both uses, it is the moving power of the air which servesthe cleaning efi'ect, and the present invention aims to take advantageof this blowing power by providing an accessory which may be readilyconnected to the vacuum cleaner and which arranges in the path of theair, either on the suction side or blower side of the cleaner, areceptacle containing a ermicide through which the air is directe sothat said germicide will be drawn into and through the article beingcleanedwhen used in connection with the suction side of the cleaner ormay be blown into contact with an article to be treated when using theblower side of the cleaner. v

The invention, more specifically stated comprises a container which maybe readily connected to the suction side of the cleaner or to areceptacle connected to the suction side of the cleaner, or-as readilyconnected in the line on the blower side of the cleaner to force thegermicide-laden air to any point of application.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a broken perspective view showing a particular type ofvacuum cleaner with the 1m roved accessory arranged on the blower sidethereof.

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the germicidecontainer with the flexible connectors by which it may be connected tothe vacuum cleaner.

Figure3 is an elevation, artly. in sect1on,-of a particular type offlexible connector, adapting the accessory for convenient use withsubstantially all types of vacuum cleaners.

Figure 4 is a view in elevation of a pipe connection through which thegermicideladen air may be directed in contact with any object.

The vacuum cleaner illustrated in the drawings is intended torepresentany type of such well known implement in which, as is understood, acurrent of air is drawn through the suction inlet, 1 and deliveredthrough the blower outlet 2'. Ordinarily, the suction inlet is connectedwith an appropriate implement to be passed over the surface to besubjected to the suction and the blower outlet 2 is removably connectedto a bag inwhich the dust and dirt drawn into and through the vacuumcleaner is deposited.

The present invention is directed more particularly to a germicidecontainer providing a complete unit and capable of being connected inthe suction line or blower line of the vacuum cleaner. The containercom-- prises a hollow casing 3 reduced at one end.- to form a conicalnozzle 4 and freelyopen at the oppositeend. A foraminous cage 5 havingan open end.6 is provided with a lateral flange 7 which overlies thefree edge of the casing 3. The cage is of frusto-conical formation, thatis, its annular wall is convergent from the flange 7 so that its innerclosed wall 8 is of less diameter than the mouth of the casing 3. Due tothis con-- vergence and the perforated condition of the annular wall andinner wall 8, the air forced through from the closed end of the cage canreadily enter throughout the full length of the cage, but of course mustpass through .the cage in order to find an outlet,

The container includes a cap 9 having a conical nozzle 10 and an annularflange 11 which fits over the end of the casing 3 and is more or lesstightly held in. connection therewith by the pin and slot connectionillustrated at 12. The wall 11 of the cover is formed to provide ashoulder 13 which, when the cover is in applied position, bears upon theflange 7 of the cage and securely,

- though removably, fixes the cage in position. The cover is provided inline with the shoulder 13 with a partition 14 perforated at 15 which,when the cover is applied, forms a perforated closure for the cage, asclearly shown in Figure 2. 1

It will of course'be understood that all vacuum cleaners are providedwith certain improved germicide receptacle, such accessory is tobeinterposed in the blower line between the blower outlet 2 and the hose16 or between hose 16 and nozzle 17, and for this purpose flexibleconnectors 18 and 19 may be applied to the respective nozzles 4: and 10of the accessory, the connectors, either or both, being in turnconnected to the blower outlet 2 of the vacuum cleaner and the connector19 joined to the hose 16.

In some instances, it may be found that the terminal of the hose 16 willdirectly engage'the nozzle 10, and in other instances it will be foundthat the terminal of the hose is in the type of a metallic connectoradapted to interlock with a particular configuration on the bloweroutlet 2. Under these circumstances, the connectors 1.8 and 19 areparticularly formed at the ends which connect with the hose and with theblower outlet 2 to provide a tight connection notwithstanding theparticular interlocking formation. To secure this result, the connectors18 and 19, either or both, may be formed at both ends with an inturnedmargin 20 pro.-

viding a comparatively small opening 21.

When this connector is forced over the blower outlet or hose terminal,the flanged end will yield to compensate for the interlocking formationwhile at the same time providing the desired tight connection.

It has been heretofore proposed to provide a comparatively largeflexible bag-like enclosure adapted to be removably connected to thesuction end 1 of the vacuum cleaner, in which bag like enclosurearticles such as clothing, pillows, and other small articles may beplaced, in order that in the operation of the vacuum cleaner, the airmay be drawn over and through the contained articles to remove dustanddirt therefrom.

It is designed to use the improved accessory with such containers, as insuch use the mouth of the bag, that is the opening remote from thesuction end, 1 of the vacuum cleaner, is drawn more or less tightlyaround the casing 3, so that all air entering the bag must pass throughthe casing and cage 5.

In use, the cage 5 is designed to be charged with a loose carrier, as asponge, cotton batting, or the like as indicated at -22, and anappropriate amount ofgermicide, insecticide, deodorizer, or if desiredordinary perfume, is poured into the carrier 22 and the cover 9 applied.With the accessory connected in the blower end of the vacuum cleaner,all air delivered by the power of the motor of the cleaner is compelledto travel through the cage and through the carrier charged with thefluid. Such air then leaves the cover-nozzle 10 charged with the vaporor volatile constituents of the particular liquid used and may bedelivered at any point or into any surface or directed generally intothe air. Owing to the large pressure capacity of the usual vacuumcleaner, it will be apparent that a very considerable portion of thevolatile constituents of the liquid will be picked up and directed withmaterial force into the surface or into the article being treated. Thereis thus provided a means by which a germicide-laden air may be utilizedeffectivel with little labor and loss of time as an e fective insectdestroyer. In this connection, the use of the accessory provides asimple, effective and readily controlled destroyer for moths and mothlarvae. The walls of a sick room may be treated or the eneral air of aroom may be deodorized, fumigated, or even perfumedin a simple andexpeditious manner by merely arrang-. ing the accessory in the blowerend or outlet of the vacuum cleaner and operating the latter.

In the use of the accessory in connection with the article-containingbag hereinbefore referred to, it is apparent that the articles -in thebag are not only subjected to the cleansing action of the air passingtherethrough, but may be at the same time treated with any desiredgermicide or insecticide which not only cleans such articles but willalso thoroughly destroy any germ, insect or larva life which may bepresent. For example, this particular use provides a very convenient,simple and expeditious manner of not only removing dust and dirt fromarticles of clothing, but at the same time destroying any moths or mothlarvae which may be present.

It is of course to be understood that the invention, while moreparticularly directed to the specific construction of the germicidecontainer, is also directed to the use of such container in connectionwith any type of power-driven vacuum cleaner.

This cleaner accessory or spraying device is designed especially in theinterests of health protection and for the reconstruction of germ-ladenand malodorous air in public places, for destroying exhaled breath germsand perfuming the air,'being particularly useful in those places which,by reason of their use and character, are used by a large number ofpeople, such for example as passenger trains and the like. 1

The invention is also particularly eifective for destroying germs in theinterior of rooms, such as hotel rooms, and is of course moreparticularly directed to the mattresses and and bedding as well as thewalls of such rooms. Hotel guests are of course not subjected to medicalexamination and the bedding used by one guest, that is, the mattressillows, are, after a mere change of beddlng, as sheets and pillow-cases,usedby the next guest. The present invention provides ameans in whichthe mattress and pillows as well as the wallsmay, in a most eflicientand expeditious manner, be thoroughly treated to avoid any lackofperfect cleanliness in this particular and insure ractically' acomplete sanitary cleaning for t e-perfect security of the nextoccupant.

What I claim tobe new is:

An accessory for vacuum cleaners, including a cylindrical body open atone end and with a reduced extension at the opposite end, a. foraminouscage of convergent form having an .ed e flange to overlie and bear onthe edge o the open end of the body, a cap threaded on said open end ofthe body. and

bearing on and securing the cage in place, said cap having an extensioncorresponding in size and form to that of the body, and a foraminousplate secured in and carried by the cap, and forming a cover section forthe eagle when the ca is in lace.

testimonyw ereof afli LEO P.

